A Kid With A Grown Up Heart by
25
(28 Stories)

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There are nights 

when the dreams of that house

break through these bedroom walls,

as the ringing in my ears 

becomes the sound of my own name, 

echoing through that third floor stairway

into the open pocket doors 

of the dining room, 

through the nine windows in the sun parlor,

finally escaping into the gravel stones

of the backyard.

 

An old house

built in the 1920’s, 

when building houses was an art-form,

When carpenters carried photographs

of their craftsmanship,

and carved their service into honor

with their hands.

 

There were so much wood in that house

Wooden beams on the ceiling,

Wooden pillars between rooms,

a wooden mantel above the fireplace, 

parquet floors, mahogany furniture.

As a child I’d imagine faces 

staring at me in the lines of the wood

ready to leap alive to capture me.

 

Beautiful carnival glass adorned 

the bronze chandeliers in the living room.

From the same room 

a stained glass window 

looked down upon us from the staircase,

its green stems and red roses 

so vibrant in the afternoon light.

 

I came back home at the age of 50

Divorced, two sons fully grown and gone,

I had to decide my next living arrangement 

since my landlord wanted to sell,

I chose to move to the 3rd floor apartment

of my parent’s house.

 

‘In Retrospect’

these became the best years of my life.

Being back at home with mom and dad

bought an everyday wonder,

a magical presence of my old life

mingling with the new.

I felt like a kid with a grown up heart

who knew exactly where she was.

(to be continued)

Profile photo of Patricia Valese pattyv


Characterizations: moving, well written

Comments

  1. Betsy Pfau says:

    Your house imagery is stunning, Patty. It resonates with beauty and a child’s imagination of what might happen if all the wooden carvings came to life. Going back to live there after so many years seems like it was a good move for you, a distinction between what came before as an adult, and the possibilities that lie ahead, even harkening back to your childhood. I know it will turn out well for you going forward.

    • pattyv says:

      B, thanks for your great response but that was 20 years ago, it lasted about 10 years and such a loving experience, both mom & dad passed and I was there to help them stay in the home they loved. Afterwards I couldn’t afford the house and sadly had to sell. There’s so many moments to write about, that’s why I said to be continued.

  2. Khati Hendry says:

    This was a beautiful story about a loving and beloved home. How fortunate to be able to have a “do-over”–to go back and relive a part of your life with the wisdom and experience of an older person. And to appreciate your parents on another level. As always, hauntingly evocative poetry.

  3. Patty, a lovely poem and what a joyous plan to move back in your childhood home while your parents are still with you!
    And yes, beautiful imagery of wood and stained glass. I’ve written about my childhood memory of the stained glass window in my mother’s closet in my story “Fluffy and the Alligator Shoes”.
    https://www.myretrospect.com/stories/fluffy-and-the-alligator-shoes/

  4. Dave Ventre says:

    Evocative! Lovely that you were able to go back, re-enter their lives and make it work.

  5. Laurie Levy says:

    This is such a lovely description of your childhood home. So special to have been able to revisit it as an adult.

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